Method and device for hiding messages

ABSTRACT

Based on user configuration, a main messaging user interface screen on a messaging device either presents a list of references to messages stored on the device based on a complete index of references to the stored messages or based on a filtered index of references to the stored messages. References to stored messages of a predetermined type are not maintained in the filtered index.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the operation of messaging clientsoftware and, in particular, to a method and device for activelylimiting the presentation of references to a particular type of messagein a main messaging user interface screen.

BACKGROUND

It is often the case for messaging clients, especially those messagingclients operating on wireless, hand-held communication devices, that areference to each message, both sent and received, appears in a mainmessaging user interface screen.

Unfortunately, users may find that the aggregated display is clutteredand confusing. The users may wish to, in an attempt to reduce clutter,hide references to a particular type of message, say, sent messages, sothat the number of displayed references to messages is reduced. However,to this point, an efficient solution for hiding references to sent, orother, messages has not been found.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the figures which illustrate example embodiments of this application:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication network including anenterprise with a-wireless connection to a mobile data communicationdevice;

FIG. 2 illustrates a relationship between folders maintaining indices ofreferences to specific types of messages and an aggregating object formaintaining a complete index;

FIG. 3 illustrates the addition of an object for maintaining a filteredindex in conjunction with messaging flow according to an embodiment ofthe present application;

FIG. 4 illustrates exemplary steps in a method of presenting a displaylist of references to stored messages, according to an embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary steps in a method of initializing thefiltered index, according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary steps in a method of maintaining thefiltered index in the presence of notification event messages accordingto an embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless mobile communication device from theexemplary communication network of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment ofthe present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Based on user configuration, a main messaging user interface screen on amessaging device either presents a list of references to messages storedon the device based on a complete index of references to the storedmessages or based on a filtered index of references to the storedmessages. References to stored messages of a predetermined type are notmaintained in the filtered index. For example, a user may provide anindication that display of references to sent messages is to be limited.Responsive to receiving such an indication, a filtered index may becreated, where the filtered index of references excludes sent messages.Later, when the main messaging user interface screen is requested by theuser, a display list may be formed, based on the filtered index.

In accordance with an aspect of the present application there isprovided a method of presenting a display on a mobile communicationdevice. The method includes storing a plurality of received messages anda plurality of sent messages. The method further includes, in a firstmode, presenting a first display that includes references to theplurality of received messages and references to the plurality of sentmessages and, in a second mode, presenting a second display thatincludes references to only the plurality of received messages.Additionally, a mobile communication device is provided for carrying outthis method and a computer readable medium is provided for containinginstructions to allow a processor to carry out this method.

In accordance with another aspect of the present application there isprovided a method of presenting a user interface on a communicationdevice on which are stored a plurality of messages. The method includesreceiving a request to present a display list of references to theplurality of messages, determining whether a configuration option hasbeen activated to limit presentation of references to a particular typeof message, if the configuration option has been activated, forming thedisplay list of references based on a filtered index of references tothe plurality of messages and controlling presentation of the displaylist. Additionally, a mobile communication device is provided forcarrying out this method and a computer readable medium is provided forcontaining instructions to allow a processor to carry out this method.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present application there isprovided a method of presenting a user interface on a communicationdevice on which device are stored a plurality of messages. The methodincludes maintaining a master index of references to a plurality ofmessage objects, receiving an indication of a filtering criterion,creating, based on the master index, a filtered index of references to aplurality of message objects that satisfy the filtering criterion,forming a display list based on the filtered index and presenting thedisplay list. The creating the filtered index includes selecting a givenreference from the master index, determining whether a given messageobject corresponding to the given reference satisfies the filteringcriterion and if the given message object satisfies the filteringcriterion, adding the given reference to the filtered index.Additionally, a mobile communication device is provided for carrying outthis method and a computer readable medium is provided for containinginstructions to allow a processor to carry out this method.

In accordance with a still further aspect of the present applicationthere is provided a method of maintaining a filtered index of referencesto a plurality of messages objects. The method includes receiving anotification event message relating to a given message object,determining whether a reference to the given message object is presentin the filtered index, if a reference to the given message object is notpresent in the filtered index, determining whether the given messageobject satisfies a criterion and, if the given message object satisfiesthe criterion, adding a reference to the given message object to thefiltered index.

Other aspects and features of the present application will becomeapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of thefollowing description of specific embodiments of the application inconjunction with the accompanying figures.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, an enterprise 100 includes a local areanetwork (LAN) 118 connected to a central enterprise server 102. Theenterprise server 102, which may, for instance, be a Microsoft™ ExchangeServer, may provide access to electronic mail (e-mail) services,calendar services and contact management services. The enterprise server102 is connected to a wide area network (WAN, such as the publicInternet) 108 via a firewall or proxy server 106. The enterprise 100 maytake advantage of centralized management services for wirelesscommunications by installing a mobile device server 104 with aconnection via the firewall 106 to the WAN 108. As illustrated in FIG.1, a wireless carrier network 110 connects to the WAN 108 via a relay107. An exemplary mobile communications device 112 may be connected tothe wireless carrier network 110 for accessing the services provided bythe enterprise server 102 through communication with the mobile deviceserver 104.

Elsewhere, a further LAN 128, to which is connected a personal computer130, is connected to the WAN 108.

In typical operation, a user of the mobile communication device 112 maycompose an e-mail message addressed to a user of the personal computer130. Upon completion of the composition of the e-mail message, the userof the mobile communication device 112 may select a “Send” menu itemfrom a menu presented by an e-mail message composition user interface.Responsive to the menu item selection, the mobile communication device112 may send the e-mail message to the enterprise server 102 via thewireless carrier network 110, the relay 107, the WAN 108, the firewall106 and the mobile device server 104. In addition to sending themessage, the mobile communication device 112 stores a copy of thecomposed message in local memory.

At the enterprise server 102, the appropriate steps may be taken to sendthe e-mail message, through the LAN 118, the firewall 106 and the WAN108, to a mail server (not shown) at the further LAN 128 that isassociated with the “TO:” address of the e-mail message. Subsequently,the user of the personal computer 130 may request that an e-mail clientexecuted on the personal computer 130 request e-mail messages for thatuser from the mail server at the further LAN 128.

Other messaging formats may be available to the user of the mobilecommunication device 112. For one example, the user of the mobilecommunication device 112 may send a message to a user of another mobilecommunication device using the known Short Messaging Service (SMS). Foranother example, the user of the mobile communication device 112 maysend a message to a user of another mobile communication device usingthe known Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). MMS is based on the sameprinciple as conventional SMS. When using SMS-based messaging, messagesmay be restricted to a maximum size, which may be expressed as 160 textcharacters or 160 bytes. In contrast, the MMS-based messaging standarddoes not specify a maximum size. A maximum size may be specified by anoperator of a wireless communication network or by a manufacturer of aparticular mobile communication device (for billing purposes). UsingMMS-based messaging, different types of data, such as text, music,photographs or brief video sequences, may be included in a singlemessage.

In a manner similar to sending a message using an e-mail service, inconjunction with arranging the transmission of an SMS message or an MMSmessage, the mobile communication device 112 stores a copy of thecomposed message.

As should be clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art of wirelessmessaging, the mobile communication device 112 that can send messages ofvarious types can equally receive messages of various types, includinge-mail messages, SMS messages and MMS messages. Further types ofmessages may be available for sending and receiving, the protocol of theexchange of these further types of messages being proprietary toparticular manufacturers of devices or developers of mobilecommunication device software.

If the mobile communication device operating software is implemented inan object-oriented programming language, each of the messages, whatevertype, sent and received, may be considered a separate object. Inparticular, each of the messages may be considered an instantiation of amessage class. More particularly, a sent e-mail message may be aninstantiation of a Sent E-mail Message class, a received e-mail messagemay be an instantiation of a Received E-mail Message class, a sent SMSmessage may be an instantiation of a Sent SMS Message class, etc. Eachmessage class may have a structure unique to the type of messagerepresented, including appropriate methods and implementing appropriateinterfaces.

The main user interface of the messaging client executed on the mobilecommunication device 112 may provide a user with an ability to associatea given message object with a particular folder. As such, the messageobjects maintained by the messaging client may be associated with astatus of either “filed”, for those message that have been filed in aparticular folder, or “un-filed”, for those messages that have not beenfiled.

Without regard for whether the user has associated a message object witha folder for organization of the message objects, each message object isassociated with one or more folders. For example, as illustrated in FIG.2, a reference to each e-mail message object (both sent and received)stored on the mobile communication device 112 is maintained in a folder212 specifically for references to e-mail messages, with a subfolder 214for references to filed e-mail messages and a subfolder 216 forreferences to un-filed e-mail messages. Additionally, a reference toeach SMS message object (both sent and received) stored on the mobilecommunication device 112 is maintained in a folder 222 for references toSMS messages, with a subfolder 224 for references to filed SMS messagesand a subfolder 226 for references to un-filed SMS messages.Furthermore, a reference to each MMS message object (both sent andreceived) stored on the mobile communication device 112 is maintained ina folder 232 for references to MMS messages, with a subfolder 234 forreferences to filed MMS messages and a subfolder 236 for references toun-filed SMS messages.

Notably, stored received messages may not be complete. Indeed, as amemory preservation strategy, while a complete received message may bestored at the enterprise server 102 (see FIG. 1), only a portion of thereceived message may be stored at the mobile communication device 112.

In some mobile communications devices, a main messaging user interfaceis provided for messaging using all of the messaging types available tothe device. As such, a main messaging user interface screen object maycontrol a display of references to e-mail messages sent and received,SMS messages sent and received, MMS messages sent and received and othertypes of messages sent and received.

A message aggregating object may be designed for maintaining anaggregate, or “master”, index of references to messages sent andreceived at the mobile communication device 112. As illustrated in FIG.2, an instance 202 of a MergedCollection class may serve as the messageaggregating object.

Upon creation, the MergedCollection object 202 registers, as a“listener”, with the filed e-mail messages subfolder 214, the un-filede-mail messages subfolder 216, the filed SMS messages subfolder 224, theun-filed SMS messages subfolder 226, the filed MMS messages subfolder234 and the un-filed SMS messages subfolder 236. Responsive to theregistration of the MergedCollection object 202, each subfolder providesthe MergedCollection object 202 with an index of the references tomessages contained in the subfolder. The MergedCollection object 202aggregates the received indices into a master index of references tomessage objects.

Once the MergedCollection object 202 has registered as a listener to agiven subfolder, each time the contents of the given subfolder changes,due to, for example, additions, deletions and modifications of areference to a message object, the given subfolder sends a notificationevent message to all listeners. Consequently, the given subfolder sendsa notification event message to the MergedCollection object 202.Responsive to receiving the notification event message, theMergedCollection object 202 updates the master index of references tomessage objects.

A new class of object, a FilteredMergedCollection class, is proposedherein, similar to the MergedCollection class. An object 304 (see FIG.3) of the FilteredMergedCollection class differs from the object 202 ofthe MergedCollection class in that the FilteredMergedCollection class isassociated with filtering criteria. A reference to a message object isonly included in a “filtered” index maintained by theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 if the message object satisfies thefiltering criteria. Furthermore, rather than registering with thesubfolders, as done by the MergedCollection object 202, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 registers as a listener with theMergedCollection object 202 and, consequently, receives references tomessage objects, and subsequent notification event messages, from theMergedCollection object 202.

In overview, in common with typical operation, the main messaging userinterface screen object receives a request (step 402, FIG. 4), from theuser, to display a list of references to message objects. The mainmessaging user interface screen object then determines (step 404)whether the user has configured the software to activate limiting thedisplay of (hide) references to a particular type of message, say, sentmessages. If it is determined that the user has not configured thesoftware to hide sent messages, the main messaging user interface screenobject forms a Display List (step 406) of references to message objectsbased on the master index that is maintained by the MergedCollectionobject 202. The main messaging user interface screen object may thencontrol the presentation of the Display List (step 408) on a userinterface screen of the mobile communication device 112. If it isdetermined (step 404) that the user has configured the software to hidesent messages, the main messaging user interface screen object forms aDisplay List (step 410) of references to message objects based on thefiltered index that is maintained by the FilteredMergedCollection object304. The main messaging user interface screen object may then controlthe presentation of the Display List (step 408) on the user interfacescreen of the mobile communication device 112.

In a first exemplary message composition scenario, wherein a user hasnot indicated that the display of any type of message should besuppressed (e.g., a configuration option “Hide Sent messages” has beenset to “No”), the user composes an e-mail message. Briefly, softwareexecuted on the mobile communication device 112 receives an indicationof a selection, by the user, of a “new e-mail message” menu item from amessaging user interface menu. Responsively, the executing softwareinstantiates an object of a new e-mail message class. Based on userinput, the executing software populates fields of the new e-mail messageobject. The executing software then receives an indication of aselection, by the user, of a “send” menu item from the messaging userinterface menu. In conjunction with arranging the transmission of thenew e-mail message over the wireless network 110, which may involveadding the new e-mail message object to an outgoing message queue, theexecuting software may store the new e-mail message object and add areference to the new e-mail message object to the un-filed e-mailmessages subfolder 216 (see FIG. 2).

When the reference to the new e-mail message object is added to theun-filed e-mail messages subfolder 216, the un-filed e-mail messagessubfolder 216 sends a notification event message to each registeredlistener (e.g., the MergedCollection object 202), indicating that thereference to the new e-mail message object has been added. Uponreceiving the notification event message, the MergedCollection object202 updates the maintained master index to include the reference to thenew e-mail message object.

Unfortunately, users may find that a display of the master index, whichaggregates references to messages in the e-mail format, SMS format, MMSformat, etc., both sent and received, is cluttered and confusing. Theusers may, in an attempt to reduce clutter, wish to hide sent messagesso that only received messages are displayed. To that end, the user maynavigate within the user interface screens of the mobile communicationdevice to a configuration screen. The user may use the configurationscreen to indicate that sent messages are not to be included in thedisplay presented by the main messaging user interface screen object.The selection of this configuration option triggers instantiation of theFilteredMergedCollection class such that the FilteredMergedCollectionobject 304 is created. Notably, until the user has indicated arequirement to hide particular types of messages, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 is unnecessary.

Once created, the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 enters a startupphase, exemplary steps of which are illustrated in FIG. 5. The startupphase involves registering (step 502), as a listener, with theMergedCollection object 202. Furthermore, the FilteredMergedCollectionobject 304 requests (step 504), from the MergedCollection object 202,the master index currently maintained by the MergedCollection object202.

When the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 has received (step 506) themaster index, the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 considers each ofthe references in the master index as candidates for the filtered index.In particular, the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 first selects areference (step 508) for consideration. Then, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 sends a status query (step 510) tothe message object corresponding to the selected reference. Where thecorresponding message object implements a predetermined visibilitycontrol interface, the corresponding message object responds to thestatus query with a communication that indicates various details aboutthe corresponding message object. The communication may, for instance,take the form of a 16-bit value, where each of the 16 bits isrepresentative of a status of the corresponding message object. Thestatus bits may, for instance, be used to indicate that thecorresponding message object is a “sent” message, a “received” message,a message “pending” in an outgoing message queue or a message in theprocess of “being transmitted”.

Where the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 determines (step 510) thatone of the details included in the communication from the correspondingmessage object indicates that the corresponding message object is a“sent” message, the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 does not add thereference to the corresponding message object to the maintained filteredindex. The FilteredMergedCollection object 304 then determines (step516) whether all references in the received master index have beenconsidered. If all references in the received master index have beenconsidered, the startup phase is complete. However, if all references inthe received master index have been not considered, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 selects another reference (step 508)for consideration.

Where the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 determines (step 510) thatthe communication from the corresponding message object indicates thatthe corresponding message object is a message of a type other than“sent”, the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 adds (step 514) thereference to the corresponding message object to the maintained filteredindex. The FilteredMergedCollection object 304 then determines (step516) whether all references in the received master index have beenconsidered. If all references in the received master index have beenconsidered, the startup phase is complete.

In a second exemplary message composition scenario, wherein a user hasindicated that the display of sent messages should be suppressed (e.g.,the configuration option “Hide Sent messages” has been set to “Yes”),the user composes an e-mail message. As above, software executed on themobile communication device 112 receives an indication of a selection,by the user, of a “new e-mail message” menu item from a messaging userinterface menu. Responsively, the executing software instantiates anobject of the new e-mail message class. Based on user input, theexecuting software populates fields of the new e-mail message object.The executing software then receives an indication of a selection, bythe user, of a “send” menu item from the messaging user interface menu.In conjunction with arranging the transmission of the new e-mail messageover the wireless network 110, which may involve adding the new e-mailmessage object to an outgoing message queue, the executing software thenstores the new e-mail message object and adds a reference to the newe-mail message object to the un-filed e-mail messages subfolder 216.

When the reference to the new e-mail message object has been added tothe un-filed e-mail messages subfolder 216, the un-filed e-mail messagessubfolder 216 sends a notification event message to the MergedCollectionobject 202, indicating that the reference to the new e-mail messageobject has been added. Upon receiving the notification event message,the MergedCollection object 202 updates the maintained master index. TheMergedCollection object 202 then sends a notification event message toeach of its registered listeners (e.g., the FilteredMergedCollectionobject 304).

Upon receiving the notification event message (step 602, see FIG. 6),the FilteredMergedCollection 304 determines (step 604) whether thenotification event message relates to a message a reference to which ismaintained in the filtered index. If the FilteredMergedCollection 304determines that the notification event message relates to a message areference to which is not maintained in the filtered index, theFilteredMergedCollection 304 sends a status query (step 606) to the newe-mail message object. Where the new e-mail message object implementsthe predetermined visibility control interface, the new e-mail messageobject responds to the status query with a communication that indicatesvarious details about the new e-mail message object. Where theFilteredMergedCollection 304 determines (step 608) that one of thedetails included in the communication from the new e-mail message objectindicates that the new e-mail message object is a “sent” message, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 does not add the reference to thenew e-mail message object to the maintained filtered index and themethod of processing a received notification event message is complete.

If, however, the FilteredMergedCollection 304 determines (step 608) thatone of the details included in the communication from the new e-mailmessage object indicates that the new e-mail message object is, forexample, a “pending” message or a “being transmitted” message, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 adds the reference (step 610) to thenew e-mail message object to the maintained filtered index, since only“sent” messages are to be left out of the filtered index. TheFilteredMergedCollection object 304 may then send a notification eventmessage (step 612), to any of its listeners, indicating that thereference to the new e-mail message object has been added to thefiltered index and the method of processing a received notificationevent message is complete.

Each time the status of the new e-mail message object changes, theun-filed e-mail messages subfolder 216 sends a notification eventmessage to each registered listener (e.g., the MergedCollection object202), where the notification event message indicates that the status ofthe new e-mail message object has changed. Upon receiving thenotification event message and acting according to the contents of thenotification event message, the MergedCollection object 202 sends anotification event message to the FilteredMergedCollection object 304.

Upon receiving (step 602) the notification event message, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 determines (step 604) whether thenotification event message relates to a message a reference to which ismaintained in the filtered index. If the FilteredMergedCollection 304determines that the notification event message relates to a message areference to which is maintained in the filtered index, theFilteredMergedCollection 304 sends a status query (step 616) to the newe-mail message object. Where the FilteredMergedCollection 304 determines(step 618) that one of the details included in the communication fromthe new e-mail message object, received responsive to the status queryand a reference to which has previously been added to the filtered indexmaintained by the FilteredMergedCollection object 304, indicates thatthe new e-mail message object is a “sent” message, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 updates the filtered index to removethe reference (step 622) to the new e-mail message object. TheFilteredMergedCollection object 304 may then send a notification eventmessage (step 612), to any of its listeners, indicating that thereference to the new e-mail message object has been removed from thefiltered index, at which point the method of processing a receivednotification event message is complete.

Where the FilteredMergedCollection 304 determines (step 618) that thecommunication from the new e-mail message object indicates that the newe-mail message object has a status other than “sent”, theFilteredMergedCollection object 304 updates the filtered index (step620) to provide an accurate status for the reference to the new e-mailmessage object. The FilteredMergedCollection object 304 may then send anotification event message (step 612), to any of its listeners,indicating that the reference to the new e-mail message object haschanged, at which point the method of processing a received notificationevent message is complete.

The user may, at some later time, wish to revert to viewing sentmessages along with received messages. To that end the user may navigatewithin the user interface screens of the mobile communication device tothe configuration screen. The user may use the configuration screen toindicate that sent messages are to be included in the display presentedby the main messaging user interface screen object. The selection ofthis configuration option triggers deletion of theFilteredMergedCollection object 304.

FIG. 7 illustrates, in greater detail, the mobile communication device112 familiar from FIG. 1. Aspects of the present application may beimplemented in the mobile communication device 112.

FIG. 7 illustrates the mobile communication device 112 including ahousing, an input device (a keyboard 774), and an output device (adisplay 726), which is preferably a full graphic Liquid Crystal Display(LCD). Other types of output devices may alternatively be utilized. Aprocessing device (a microprocessor 728) is shown schematically in FIG.7 as coupled between the keyboard 774 and the display 726. Themicroprocessor 728 controls the operation of the display 726, as well asthe overall operation of the mobile device 112, in response to actuationof keys on the keyboard 774 by a user.

The housing may be elongated vertically, or may take on other sizes andshapes (including clamshell housing structures). The keyboard mayinclude a mode selection key, or other hardware or software forswitching between text entry and telephony entry.

In addition to the microprocessor 728, other parts of the mobile device112 are shown schematically in FIG. 7. These include: a communicationssubsystem 700; a short-range communications subsystem 702; the keyboard774 and the display 726, along with other input/output devices includinga set of auxiliary I/O devices 706, a serial port 708, a speaker 711 anda microphone 712; as well as memory devices including a flash memory 716and a Random Access Memory (RAM) 718; and various other devicesubsystems 720. The mobile device 112 may have a battery 721 to powerthe active elements of the mobile device 112. The mobile device 112 ispreferably a two-way radio frequency (RF) communication device havingvoice and data communication capabilities. In addition, the mobiledevice 10 preferably has the capability to communicate with othercomputer systems via the Internet.

Operating system software executed by the microprocessor 728 ispreferably stored in a persistent store, such as the flash memory 716,but may be stored in other types of memory devices, such as a read onlymemory (ROM) or a similar storage element. In addition, system software,specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarilyloaded into a volatile store, such as the RAM 718. Communication signalsreceived by the mobile device may also be stored to the RAM 718.

The microprocessor 728, in addition to its operating system functions,enables execution of software applications on the mobile device 112. Apredetermined set of software applications that control basic deviceoperations, such as a voice communications module 730A and a datacommunications module 730B, may be installed on the mobile device 112during manufacture. In addition, a personal information manager (PIM)application module 730C may also be installed on the mobile device 112during manufacture. The PIM application is preferably capable oforganizing and managing data items, such as calendar events, voicemails, appointments, and task items. A messaging application may beincluded, as part of the PIM application, for implementing aspects ofthe present application while organizing and managing e-mail messages,SMS messages, MMS messages and other messages. The PIM application isalso preferably capable of sending and receiving data items via thewireless network 110. Preferably, the data items managed by the PIMapplication are seamlessly integrated, synchronized and updated via thewireless network 110 with the device user's corresponding data itemsstored or associated with a host computer system. As well, additionalsoftware modules, illustrated as an other software module 130N, may beinstalled during manufacture.

Communication functions, including data and voice communications, areperformed through the communication subsystem 700, and possibly throughthe short-range communications subsystem 702. The communicationsubsystem 700 includes a receiver 750, a transmitter 752 and one or moreantennas, illustrated as a receive antenna 754 and a transmit antenna756. In addition, the communication subsystem 700 also includes aprocessing module, such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 758, andlocal oscillators (LOs) 760. The specific design and implementation ofthe communication subsystem 700 is dependent upon the communicationnetwork in which the mobile device 112 is intended to operate. Forexample, the communication subsystem 700 of the mobile device 112 may bedesigned to operate with the Mobitex™, DataTAC™ or General Packet RadioService (GPRS) mobile data communication networks and also designed tooperate with any of a variety of voice communication networks, such asAdvanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access CDMA, Personal CommunicationsService (PCS), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), etc. Othertypes of data and voice networks, both separate and integrated, may alsobe utilized with the mobile device 112.

Network access requirements vary depending upon the type ofcommunication system. For example, in the Mobitex™ and DataTAC™networks, mobile devices are registered on the network using a uniquePersonal Identification Number (PIN) associated with each device. InGPRS networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriberor user of a device. A GPRS device therefore requires a subscriberidentity module, commonly referred to as a Subscriber Identity Module(SIM) card, in order to operate on a GPRS network.

When required network registration or activation procedures have beencompleted, the mobile device 712 may send and receive communicationsignals over the communication network 710. Signals received from thecommunication network 710 by the receive antenna 754 are routed to thereceiver 750, which provides for signal amplification, frequency downconversion, filtering, channel selection, etc., and may also provideanalog to digital conversion. Analog-to-digital conversion of thereceived signal allows the DSP 758 to perform more complex communicationfunctions, such as demodulation and decoding. In a similar manner,signals to be transmitted to the network 110 are processed (e.g.,modulated and encoded) by the DSP 758 and are then provided to thetransmitter 752 for digital to analog conversion, frequency upconversion, filtering, amplification and transmission to thecommunication network 710 (or networks) via the transmit antenna 756.

In addition to processing communication signals, the DSP 758 providesfor control of the receiver 750 and the transmitter 752. For example,gains applied to communication signals in the receiver 750 and thetransmitter 752 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in the DSP 758.

In a data communication mode, a received signal, such as a text messageor web page download, is processed by the communication subsystem 700and is input to the microprocessor 728. The received signal is thenfurther processed by the microprocessor 728 for an output to the display726, or alternatively to some other auxiliary I/O devices 706. A deviceuser may also compose data items, such as e-mail messages, using thekeyboard 774 and/or some other auxiliary I/O device 706, such as atouchpad, a rocker switch, a thumb-wheel, or some other type of inputdevice. The composed data items may then be transmitted over thecommunication network 110 via the communication subsystem 700.

In a voice communication mode, overall operation of the device issubstantially similar to the data communication mode, except thatreceived signals are output to a speaker 711, and signals fortransmission are generated by a microphone 712. Alternative voice oraudio I/O subsystems, such as a voice message recording subsystem, mayalso be implemented on the mobile communication device 112. In addition,the display 726 may also be utilized in voice communication mode, forexample, to display the identity of a calling party, the duration of avoice call, or other voice call related information.

The short-range communications subsystem 702 enables communicationbetween the mobile device 112 and other proximate systems or devices,which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, theshort-range communications subsystem may include an infrared device andassociated circuits and components, or a Bluetooth™ communication moduleto provide for communication with similarly-enabled systems and devices.

In review, a user of the mobile communication device 112 may togglebetween presenting, on the display 726, a Display List based on a masterindex of messages and presenting, on the display 726, a Display Listbased on a filtered index of messages. If the option to hide aparticular type of message is activated, the Display List presented inthe main messaging user interface screen is based on a filtered index ofmessages. As the filtered index is created and maintained, messages ofthe particular type are not maintained in the filtered index. If theoption to hide a particular type of message is deactivated, the DisplayList presented in the main messaging user interface screen is based on amaster index of messages, which master index includes references to allmessages stored on the mobile communication device 112. Even whenreferences to messages of a particular type are not presented in themain messaging user interface screen, the messages remain stored on themobile communication device 112.

Furthermore, references to the messages of the particular type may beviewed as results of a search or when the contents of a given folder arepresented. It is only the main messaging user interface screen whereinreferences to the messages of the particular type are excluded.

Notably, for the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 to successfullyfilter out a reference to a given message object, the given messageobject may be required to implement the predetermined visibility controlinterface. That is, if the FilteredMergedCollection object 304 cannotdetermine the status of a message object, the message object cannot beleft out of the filtered index maintained by theFilteredMergedCollection object 304.

SMS messages may represent a special case. If the user chooses to do so,a series of SMS messages can be threaded into a single message object.The SMS message object representative of a particular thread of SMSmessages may be considered a sent message if the most recent message inthe thread is a sent message. Conversely, the SMS message objectrepresentative of the particular thread of SMS messages may beconsidered a received message if the most recent message in the threadis a received message. Given such ambiguity, it should be clear topersons of ordinary skill that a reference to the threaded SMS messageobject should not be hidden when an option to hide sent messages isactivated. To avoid hiding references to threaded SMS message objects, acorresponding threaded SMS message class may be developed withoutimplementing the visibility control interface. Alternatively, thecorresponding threaded SMS message class may be developed to implement avisibility control interface that is preset not to provide acommunication with the sent bit set to indicate a sent status.

Other modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and,therefore, the invention is defined in the claims.

1. A method of presenting a display on a mobile communication device,said method comprising: storing a plurality of received messages and aplurality of sent messages; maintaining a master index that includesreferences to said plurality of received messages and references to saidplurality of sent messages; in a first mode, presenting a first displaythat includes said references to said plurality of received messages andsaid references to said plurality of sent messages of said master index;and in a second mode, presenting a second display that includesreferences to only said plurality of received messages of said masterindex.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving user inputspecifying that said mobile communication device is to operate in saidsecond mode; and responsive to said receiving, creating, based on saidmaster index, a filtered index of said references to only said pluralityof received messages.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein said seconddisplay is based on said filtered index.
 4. The method of claim 1further comprising: receiving a request to display a list of referencesto message objects; determining that said mobile communication device isto operate in said second mode; and presenting said second display. 5.The method of claim 4 wherein said determining comprises determiningthat said list of references to message objects is be limited to aparticular type of message object.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein saidparticular type of message object is a received message object.
 7. Amobile communication device operable to: store a plurality of receivedmessages and a plurality of sent messages; maintain a master index thatincludes references to said plurality of received messages andreferences to said plurality of sent messages; in a first mode, presenta first display that includes said references to said plurality ofreceived messages and said references to said plurality of sent messagesof said master index; and in a second mode, present a second displaythat includes references to only said plurality of received messages ofsaid master index.
 8. A computer readable storage medium containingcomputer-executable instructions that, when performed by processor in amobile communication device, cause said processor to: store a pluralityof received messages and a plurality of sent messages; maintain a masterindex that includes references to said plurality of received messagesand references to said plurality of sent messages; in a first mode,present a first display that includes said references to said pluralityof received messages and said references to said plurality of sentmessages of said master index; and in a second mode, present a seconddisplay that includes references to only said plurality of receivedmessages of said master index.